Jacob
,
15

It seemed like a typical Monday morning in a small household in Hutto, TX. But this day was different. Because today, Wish Kid Jacob’s wish for a 3D printer and laptop was going to come true!

Anyone with a passion for technology knows how cool a 3D printer is! The folks at Google certainly know. And while Jacob and his family were getting ready to head out for the day, the staff at Google were busy planning Jacob’s reveal party.

Jacob is fifteen years old with a rare genetic disorder. He knew exactly what he wanted when Make-A-Wish® volunteers asked him the ever-anticipated question, “If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?” The answer was easy for Jacob, because technology was a way for him to get his mind off of his illness. An interactive 3D printer and laptop would do just that!

Make-A-Wish partnered with Google to make Jacob’s wish reveal extra special - one that he would never forget. A limousine arrived at Jacob’s home to take him to his party, VIP style. Feeling like a celebrity, Jacob arrived to a cheering crowd of Google employees anxiously waiting to fill him in on all they had planned. And there was so much! A brand new not-yet-in-stores Google Chromebook Pixel, Lego Mindstorm Programmer Application with tablet so he can create robots that walk, talk and think, and an instructional presentation on his new 3D printer! Oh, and lots of cookies!

Jacob’s wish has impacted his life by helping him persevere through the challenges of his illness. His mother Gwen told us, “Jacob’s new technology is now his pride and joy, uplifting him every day to stay positive.” She also told us that Jacob is now taking engineering in high school and has used his printer for class assignments.

When asked how Jacob’s wish experience has affected the family, Gwen simply said, “It has been a miracle in our lives. It is so hard to see my son go through all that he has to go through and words cannot express how grateful I am to Make-A-Wish for making Jacob’s suffering less of a priority in his mind.”